Potential outages are expected as Britain faces rolling power cuts of up to three hours this winter. With supplies of oil and gas under pressure following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, British companies may find themselves in the dark for a period of time.
What happened during the three-day working week in 1973?
Several measures were introduced in the UK in the early 1970s by Edward Heath’s government to conserve electricity, which was restricted due to industrial action by miners and railway workers. The six-week strike led to widespread blackouts and thousands of job losses. The three-day working week was brought in, in 1973, as coal shortages threatened the supply of electricity. It affected the media too with the BBC and ITV halting their broadcasts at 10.30pm each night. Key services such as medical facilities and supermarkets were exempt however.
What services will be most affected by a possible blackout?
Manufacturers could face issues such as maintaining production work and keeping refrigeration services running. Other sectors may not feel the impact at all, but stores and restaurants would have no alternative but to close during these blackouts.
What does it mean for the remote workers around the country?
Although working from home is now a normal part of life, this can create challenges. Many workforces solely work off-site so remote working may have to be halted during these periods. Many companies rely on information technology too and this would prove difficult during outages. The plan is for a rolling blackout in different regions at different times, and a workforce may find collaborating or meeting online difficult as some members may be affected and others won’t.
What practical steps can employers take to minimise the impact?
Working times and shift patterns could be adjusted to accommodate business needs. Opening hours could also be amended to fit around the blackouts. The business’ ability to amend working hours, especially on short notice, will depend on the person’s contract. This change may not be a viable solution for some employees who have caring or childcare responsibilities.
If the business were to push a staff member to change their hours and that person ultimately had to resign, then the employee may have a claim for constructive dismissal. Those seeking to proceed with a constructive dismissal claim can contact a range of professionals including https://www.employmentlawfriend.co.uk/constructive-dismissal.
According to Property Industry Eye an estate agent was awarded just over Ł8,000 after his claim of constructive dismissal against a firm in London was upheld.
What else can a company do during blackouts?
Some companies may wish to invest in generators to secure power supply for essential services. It is important, of course, to ensure work is safe to be continued during blackouts and that sufficient heat and light is generated.
Keep electronic devices fully charged
A workplace can also keep its equipment fully charged in preparation for a blackout. Employees too should be encouraged to keep their phones and laptops charged, both while working from the office space or at home. A company may also ask remote employees who are affected by a blackout at home to come into the office provided that there is a power supply on-site and public transport is available if required.
